The Companions of the Silver Apple are still searching for their
kidnapped patron, Gunderen Rockseeker. They did manage to rescue his bodyguard,
a griffin knight named Sildar Hallwinter. While the companions continue
to search for Gunderen they have become embroiled in a battle between the gods of
knowledge and the gods of madness. The goddess Mystra has made L'lyssa her
herald and now the gods of madness are coming for the party.
Through Azuth, the god of Wizards, they learned a terrible truth. Someone
had managed to kill Mystra, the goddess of Magic. It was only through
their bizarre actions in Neverwinter that the goddess had been able to
recompose herself. Worst of all Cyric, god of madness, has sent his own
herald, an immortal minotaur, to slay the party. Azuth also has provided
Anorak with a mysterious Copper box. Above all they are told to aid
Mystra in any way they can.

The town of Phandalin itself seems to be in chaos. Brigands called the
Red Brands seem to run the town's government. A madness cult called the Nine
Eyes, which killed the town’s only resident wizard, roams the
countryside. The Companions dealt with the Nine Eyes first. Killing
a pack of their members and then their apparent leader, a Necromancer named
Hunam Kost. The companions found a magical map showing the location of
the Apex, the herald of madness. They also found many magical evil tomes
that the Nine Eyes were using to brain wash people into fits of madness and
into joining their cult. With the local network of the Nine Eyes
destroyed the Companions return to Phandalin happy with their progress.

The Companions currently include L'lyssa the Halfing Thief,
Anorak the Elf Wizard, Percy the Human Fighter, Kalisia a mysterious bard, and
Kat a human fighter with adeptness in archery. They are about to be put
to the ultimate test.

D&D Dice Store
Check out these cool Dungeons and Dragons Dice! Get the right set for your character.

The companions travel back south toward the town of Phandalin
without incident. They travel for three days eating well off the hunting
and gathering skills of Kat. On the third morning they are in close range
to Phandalin and begin to laugh as they begin imagining relaxing in the town's
Stone Hill Inn. They are also eager to see how killing the cult and
sending refugees will aid the cause of Mystra in the town.

As they approach the town they hear screaming. Women and children begin
running through the woods toward them. They try to stop them to ask what
is happening but they are all too terrified to answer. A halfing warrior
woman and a few others appear caring spears and makeshift shields. They
seem to be battling creatures in the bushes. Their spears are covered in
blood.

L'lyssa recognizes the woman her as her Aunt Quelline. The
two make eye contact and both take a moment to smile. It has been months
since they have seen each other. Quelline begin to retreat toward L'lyssa
but as she turns she is pelted by 20 arrows originating from the woods.
She falls to the ground in a bloody heap.

L'lyssa screams in anger "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO".

As L'lyssa rushes to her aunt the rest of the Companions scan
the forest. Three goblins become visible. There seem to be more
beyond them.

The group begins to pick off the three goblins. They are
joined by some of the lightly armed townsfolk. They recognize some of
them as refugees they had saved from the Nine Eyes cult. Their makeshift
shields are emblazoned with the symbol of Mystra. They seem hopelessly
overmatched as a group of 20 goblins becomes visible beyond the three goblin
scouts. This group marches orderly with a large hobgoblin in charge.

The companions roll for initiative. With Kat going first,
Anorak second, Kalisia and Percy third. L'lyssa, after finding a letter on her
aunt, goes fourth. The group decides to go after the immediate
three and have some success but quickly realize that they are about to be
blasted by a huge swarm of goblin arrows.

Kat and Anorak take down one goblin.

Percy and Kalisia manage to take down another goblin.

However, the remaining band of goblins, 20 in number, prepares
to open fire on the Companions with their bows. The sheer amount of
arrows getting set to come the Companions way promises to be lethal.
L'lyssa looks up from her dead Aunt and, in a rage born of sorrow, calls forth
one of the favors of Mystra. She uses a favor to call forth Evard's Black
Tentacles a spell far out of her level but given access to her by her Hand of
Mystra. One of the lit fingers on her face, that represents how many
favors she has, goes dark. Four favors of Mystra remain…

The black tentacles from the spell burst from the Earth and
quickly begin tearing apart all of the entrapped goblins. Only 2 wounded
goblins and the Hobgoblin manage to escape and they are quickly dispatched by
the Companions.

The Companions then see Daran Edermath, the elf they had asked
to begin building a shrine to Mystra when they were previousily in town.
He appears with a spear and one of the makeshift shields bearing the mark of
Mystra. "Thank Mystra you are here!", he exclaims as he sees
the group. He then tells the group how a group of goblins, led by a huge
Bug Bear, have attacked the town from one side while the Red Brands have
attacked from another.

"The bastards are working together!" He spits in
disgust.

He explains that the miners in the south of town were holding
their own against goblins there and that Sildar had organized the town members
in the city square against the Red Brands. Sildar was being aided by two
mysterious strangers, a Dragonborn and a frighteningly gloomy elf. Daran
and Quellin had been ordered to use the newly formed Mystra militia to evacuate
the women and children but they had run right into another pack of
goblins.

"I will do what I can for the children, please go to
Sildar, Save our town! For Mystra!" With that Daran fled into
the wilderness following after the other evacuees.

The companions made their way to the center of town. There
are barricades and members of the Mystra militia battling Red Brands
there. The streets are littered with dead but to the Companions happily
note that most of the fallen are wearing red cloaks. Mayhem ensues with
large explosions rocking the south of town. Sildar strides forth
from the chaos in the town center. He smiles as he sees the companions and as
he haughtily shakes rivulets of blood off his sword says. "Good to
see you."

"We have the Red Brands under control but we won't be able
to stop that." He points at a large group of goblins approaching
from the east. To their rear is a huge Bugbear with several Hobgoblin
body guards. "It’s that bastard Klarg!" As Sildar says
this, an inhuman chant becomes audible.

"Klarg, Klarg, Klarg" the goblins chant.

"Kill that bastard and we can then work together on these
Red Brands." Sildar yells as he turns to return toward the battle against
the Red Brands.

The companions move toward the goblins and are met with a huge
volley of goblin arrows. Percy manages to shrug off some of the arrows
but his health is cut down to almost nothing he angrily uses his second wind to
recover. The other heroes are all injured but all manage to survive, a
potion of healing used in the process.

L'lyssa decides to once again use a favor of Mystra and calls
forth Evard's Black Tentacles. Another finger on her face goes dark and
now only three fingers remain lit with the powers of Mystra. The divine
spell does the trick though and only Klarg and his hobgoblin bodyguards remain.

Kalisia uses the bardic spell Dissonant Whispers while Anorak
blasts them with a Cone of Cold and Percy cuts deep into the hide of Klarg with
his axe. Kat fires an arrow that drops one of Hobgoblins dead. They
are then met with attacks. Two hobgoblins attack Percy nearly killing
him. Klarg lands a dreadful blow on Kalisia. The Companions are
close to falling. The next turn starts however with a Crit Arrow shot by
L'lyssa that drops Klarg.

Percy cuts off Klarg's head and waves it in the air. The
remaining goblins, most of which are wounded, see it and flee. The
Companions have crushed the goblin wave and killed Klarg once and for all.

They see that the goblins in the south of town are also
retreating. Either through the stalwart actions of the miners there or
from the death of Klarg the battle there seems to also have been won.
Percy can't help but notice that the miners there seem to use a professional
martial discipline and look far more formidable than he would have
expected. He does not dwell on this mystery though as the town is still
in danger.

They rush to meet Sildar who ushers them into the Stonehill Inn that
has become a makeshift headquarters for Sildar and the Mystra Militia.

"Are you ready to finish off these fools?" He asks the
group. "Good because I have a mission for you, one that will cut off
the head of this red cloaked beast. They are led by a wizard they call
the Glass Staff and here is how you can get at him".